A Senior's Legacy - Why We Must Care

A personal note to those who can do better, including myself.

Good Day,

I am sharing some insight about what a Senior's Legacy means to my organization and me personally. My small but mighty NPO, Personal Care Calling Services (dba) Daily Peace of Mind Communications, is Old Lives Matter driven, as it were. I started this nonprofit in April 2014. My vision began with my circumstances then and how I might see myself in 20 years.

Both of my parents had passed away, and I was and still am single and with no children; my brother, who chose to live in addiction, was on a track to kill himself, and my Sister and I sadly were estranged due to her choice and personal circumstances. My brother passed away in 2016 at 56 years of age, and then my Sister in 2021.

I am a true believer in God. I am driven daily to be his daughter and follow Christ's path. I nearly fail daily, but I am also forgiven.

The legacy of each Senior helps to create our society's foundation.

When I think about getting older and having no siblings, children, or partner to lean on as I age out of this life, no matter how strong my faith is, I can't help but be fearful sometimes. Days, even weeks, would go by, and other than my work, I would not hear from any friends over that time.

Imagine passing away in your sleep and not being discovered for a week or more; imagine that; this is the biggest fear of almost every recipient my organization calls daily. Our recipients must respond to indicate they are alright by pressing no.1 or no.3 if they would like their E.R. contact to reach out to them as soon as possible. We are not a 911 service by any means, although our daily calls have saved lives, and for me, that is humbling and highly surreal.

We try to provide a better quality of life and less anxiety from worry and being alone.

Seniors and individuals with disabilities are shunned, set aside, disregarded, and left to live in fear and anxiety. This country's government and citizens are notorious for not remembering or caring that as we age, we revert to a phase of life resembling a regressive childhood. We need loving supervision, financial support, better nutrition, social engagement, and not isolation. The legacy of each Senior helps to create our society's foundation.

As I see it and experience it daily with my recipients, it is clear that the atrocity of leaving Seniors and Disabled Americans to fend for themselves is tantamount to abuse and, in the end, manslaughter. Everyone is complicit except those businesses, organizations, and volunteers who work tirelessly to create an atmosphere of compassion and giving to those in this demographic.

I hear such beautiful and horrific life stories from our recipients. Can you ever realize that each person who came before you has left some legacy behind them, virtual stepping stones that give foundation to their corner of the world? A homemaker who raised thoughtful and hardworking children, a working mother who instilled a strong sense of doing it right the first time, and a father who helps develop business skills for the next generation. These are legacies, and we fail at supporting those who came before us. The karmic energy of kindness is a seed of love; yes, I feel that way.

If you have ever wondered why a person always has misfortune, perhaps it's that they are beaten down or can't help but make the wrong decision for the right reasons. Why don't we ask them instead of dismissing them and leaving them to continue that cycle? That is what I consider a willful disregard, leaving us complicit again.

I will summarize my main point and apologize for the blunt, sharp-edged soapbox I am standing on.

 In God's eyes, we are held to a higher standard; this goes for any other belief system as long as its foundation is based on similar principles and teachings: peace, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, love, acceptance, and accountability, to name a few.

Seniors and Disabled Individuals offer a legacy to society, a crucial building block of a decent societal structure. Their lives have value; they are not blights in society. I argue that our contrary actions are the blight, indeed.